Conversations in the Car, Vol. IV

*not sure how we started this convo, but the topic was baby names:

Michaela: So what does "Michaela" mean?

Me: Well, "Michaela" is the girl form of "Michael"... and "Michael" means "He who is like God".

Michaela: What's a "he-hoo"?

What have you done to poor Mr. Darcy?

It's time to review my first endeavor in Stephanie's "Everything Austen Challenge"!

Since I was late in joining the party, I had two challenges to complete this month (and nothing like waiting until the last minute!). I decided on watching the 1995 BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice" and reading The Darcys and the Bingleys by Marsha Altman.

My intention was to watch "P&P" first, then read the Altman book, since it's a sequel to the original story. However, I've already established I'm not the best when it comes to returning movies to Netflix...

So, while the movie "Defiance" sat on top of the TV for 2 weeks, I decided to begin my "Everything Austen Challenge" by reading The Darcys and the Bingleys.

First, let me say that I am NOT an Austen purist... so no surprise that I really enjoyed this book. It gives you a nice insight to the friendship between Darcy and Bingley, as well as another side to Caroline Bingley. The first half of the book revolves around Bingley seeking Darcy's advice on being prepared for his and Jane's wedding night. In the second half, Bingley has once again come to Darcy for advice... this time regarding Caroline's choice of suitor. I found the story to be well-written and humorous. I think any fan of "P&P" would enjoy this book.

Now, on to the 1995 BBC miniseries version of "Pride and Prejudice"...

I hadn't seen this version before... only heard how great it is, how Colin Firth is the one and only Mr. Darcy, etc.

I'm going to get so much flack for this, but...

I. hated. it.

The actor who played Charles Bingley? Oy, this had to have been his first acting job ever. And I cringed every time Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth! I know the character is frivolous and socially crass. But listening to the actress's portrayal... it was like nails on a chalkboard. Did she really have to speak in such a high-pitched voice?!

Also? I literally laughed out loud at my first glimpse of Jane Bennet:

Jane is supposed to be the most beautiful of the Bennet sisters! No offense to the actress, but she's the least prettiest of the ones who played the five sisters.

And don't get me wrong... Colin Firth is adorable. But I didn't care for his Mr. Darcy. At all. The second proposal scene... the one where Elizabeth admits her feelings for Darcy have changed and accepts the proposal? I found it cold. It's like he spat out the lines with no feelings.

THIS is much better:

Such passion... swoon! And Matthew Macfadyen? YUM.

Yes, I realize the movie version came out a full 10 years after the BBC version and was more romanticized (the producers want to sell tickets, after all). Yes, the BBC version was truer to the book. (And don't get me started on Keira Knightley and how she needs to eat a cheeseburger. Or twelve.)

Again, I'm not an Austen purist... maybe if I were, the BBC version would appeal to me more. But I'll take the 2005 movie adaptation, any day.

Have you seen both of these versions of "Pride & Prejudice"? Which do you prefer?

What a view!

I could show y'all pics of what my view consisted of while I was in Pennsylvania over the last few days...

Corn.

Everywhere you looked and as far as the eye could see...

Nah, I'm sure I could find something more pleasing to the eyes to look at...

Yep. That works for me.

It's already begun...

Seriously?! August hasn't even ended yet!

It's football time in Tennessee!

As I've mentioned, Shane and I had a great time at the Titans vs. Buccaneers game this past Saturday!

My recap of the game is now up over on EventChaser... please go here to check out my review and a few more photos! Be sure to leave me some comment-love!

Thanks again to Razor Gator for the awesome tickets!

Can You Dig It?

Just wanted to share a few things I'm in pink-puffy-heart-love with lately...

1. Yes, I know I am late getting on the bandwagon about this show. I didn't catch it when it aired last May, but have now watched the pilot online and cannot wait for the new season to begin.

Seriously, y'all... how can you not love this show?!

2. Even though it's still August, but I've been enjoying a daily, nice cup of hot tea...

made from my new Keurig, baby! And it may be "just the mini" but it suits my needs just fine.

3. I've quickly made my way through the first two books in the "Sookie Stackhouse" series...

and I'm about to start book 3. I can't keep these books down... they're easy to read and are an intriguing storyline. And yes, Lula... I have added "True Blood: Season 1" to my Netflix queue (however, I'm drawing the line at the True Blood paper dolls).

4. If you haven't tried these before, let me introduce you to Entenmann's Pop'ems Glazed Donut Holes.

Oh, my. Little bites of heaven here on earth. I am seriously addicted.

5. My new favorite channel on my Sirius radio is "40s on 4". As in, music from the 1940s. Big Band music. Think Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman and Glenn Miller.

This music reminds me of my grandpa. Sigh.

Now it's your turn to share... what are some of your current favorite things? Are you diggin' any of my current loves?

"And the crowd goes wild!"

It's been a few weeks since I've asked a "Table Topics" question... let's get this weekly feature back on board.

Shane and I had a great time at the Tennessee Titans game this past Saturday ... more on that later, but I will say it was pretty cool watching the game with over 60,000 other fans!

So, for today's question:

which historical sporting event

would you liked to have witnessed?

Maybe the USA hockey team's victory over the Soviets during the 1980 Olympics?

Secretariat winning the Triple Crown in 1973?

How about Lou Gehrig's famous "Luckiest Man" farewell speech on July 4th, 1939?

Or...?

Looks like someone got a hold of my camera...

A new school year has begun...

The girls survived the first day of school.

Of course, I'm including myself when I say "the girls".

I just don't understand how I'm now the mother of a third-grader and a first-grader. When did that happen?!

(I also don't understand how my kids cannot smile naturally for pictures...)

Hannah now changes classrooms for different subjects, which she thinks is pretty cool. She's a little disappointed not more of her closest friends are in her class. But overall, I think she's going to have a great year.

As for how Michaela's year is going to go... I'm not sure if this is any indication:

Towards the end of the day, Michaela's teacher asked the class what were their favorite parts of their very first day of 1st grade...

Michaela's answers?

(in no particular order)

Recess,

lunch,

...and going home.

A good night's sleep should never be overrated...

When Hannah was born, co-sleeping wasn't something I had planned on doing... but in those early weeks, it was much simpler to have her in the bed with me during the night (even though I didn't breastfeed her). Once she started sleeping through the night, we moved her from the bassinet beside our bed into her crib. Most nights she would start out going to sleep in her crib, but when she woke in the wee hours of the morning, I'd grab her and a bottle and bring both back to bed with me. After she had finished her early morning feeding, we'd snuggle close and go back to sleep for awhile. And I cherished having her so close to me...

I continued this routine with her until she was about 15 months old... we found out I was pregnant again and there wasn't going to be enough room in our little full-sized bed for Hannah, Shane and me (plus my expanding belly). But convincing Hannah to sleep the whole night in her crib was easier said than done.

We tried everything to get her to sleep in her crib. Letting her "cry it out"... using the Ferber method of going into her room at increased intervals... sleeping on the floor of her room beside the crib... nothing worked.

Finally, when Hannah was about 18 or 19 months old, we took away her crib and replaced it with a twin bed. Shane or I would lay down with Hannah when it was time for her to go to bed... and she stayed asleep the entire night. I don't know what it was about the twin bed that worked... but we were just so thankful it did!

So when Michaela came along, I was absolutely, positively, 100% certain this child would NOT co-sleep with us. No way, no how. She did sleep in a bassinet beside our bed for the first few weeks... and the transition from the bassinet to the crib was seamless! Praise be, or I think I would've gone barking mad...

And with the way this child sleeps, it's a good thing she was never in the bed with me...

How is that even comfortable?!

The countdown is on...

Just one week left until school starts (YAY!). In fact, registration was held earlier this evening... my girls seem happy with the teachers they ended up with. Of course, I was saddled with paperwork out the wazoo that needs to be completed and returned on the first day of school.

And yes, one of the items of paperwork was the "Code of Conduct". No worries, Michaela now knows what profanity is...

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing...

Everything Austen Challenge!

I've mentioned before I am a self-proclaimed "Jane Austen Addict". The books, the movies... the men...

Ahem.

I can't recall how I came across Stephanie's blog... but when I saw her "Everything Austen Challenge" I was intrigued! The deadline to sign up for the challenge had already passed... but Stephanie graciously let me be a part of it!

The "Everything Austen Challenge" runs from July 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. To participate, you choose six Austen-themed things you want to complete. My choices are:

• read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (this has been in my "to read" pile for the longest time...)

• read The Darcys and the Bingleys by Marsha Altman (so has this one!)

• read Colonel Brandon's Diary by Amanda Grange (I've read Mr. Darcy's Diary and Mr. Knightley's Diary by the same author, and enjoyed both... particularly Darcy's)

• read Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades and Horrible Blunders by Josephine Ross (as someone who has wondered what it would really be like to have lived during the Regency Period, this book will enlighten me on the dress and etiquette of the day!)

• watch "Pride and Prejudice" (the 1995 BBC version with Colin Firth, which I've never seen)

• watch "Lost in Austen" (a 2008 BBC miniseries... the trailer looks promising!)

Since I'll have two challenges to post this month, I'm going to choose one book and one movie... I'll read The Darcys and the Bingleys and watch "Pride and Prejudice".

Get ready, Colin Firth... I'm comin' for you!